Drain means for dishwashers and the like



Dec. 27, 1949 c. HOLLERITH- 7 2,492,283

DRAIN MEANS FOR DISHWASHERS AND THE LIKE Fi1e i Dec. 29, 1945 /6 E I /6 32 I l 32 3'2ll 1 i 20 1 1 I I I I, I: /8

gwuz/wtoo [Hum E5 HUI. L .ER/ 7w Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAIN MEANS FOR DISHWASHERS AND THE LIKE Charles Hollerith, Jackson, Mich.

Application December 29, 1945, Serial No.- 638,319 3 Claims. (01. 137-21) The present invention relates to improvements in dishwashers and the like of the type disclosed in co-pending application, Serial No. 638,273, filed December 29, 1945.

In dishwashers of the above type, the drain valve is closed while the impeller motor is running, and when the motor is stopped the drain valve opens. According to the present invention, the drain valve has been eliminated and the washing liquid is confined to the washing vat by a. rotating baflie or pump driven by the impeller. motor. When the impellen motor stops, the washing and rinsing liquid flows through the bafiie or, pump vanes to the drain for discharge from the apparatus.

Thus, one object of the invention is to provide a valveless washing vat for dishwashers and the like, in which the discharge of liquids is controlled by repelling the liquid from the drain opening during the washing and rinsing part of the cycle of operation.

Another object resides in providing a motor driven impeller and liquid drain controlling unit, in which means are provided for repelling the liquid from the drain while the motor driving the impeller is operating.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve for controlling the discharge of liquids from a container, the valve being in the form of a rotated element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve controlling the flow of liquid from the container movement of valve being performed by rotated elements and repelling the liquid from discharge by centrifugal action.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts will be more fully described in the following specification and the appended claims.

In the drawings, the principles of the invention have been illustrated in'connection with a vertical cross-sectional view of a dishwasher with the impeller and drain control unit shown installed in the discharge opening of the vat.

The vat ID of the dishwasher, in which the dishes are washed and rinsed in the well-known manner, has the central opening I2 closed by the sump (4 when the latter is secured in position by a suitable ring 16. The motor I8 is supported from the sump l4 and drives the shaft 20 upon which the impeller 22 and pump 24 are mounted. A conical wall 26 defines a central drain opening 28. The pump 24 has a hub 30 and radial blades 32 rotated by the shaft 20 to sweep the wall 26 with a slight amount of clearance to eject all liquids from the drain opening while the motor I8 is running. In a dishwasher of the type disclosed in the aforesaid application, the motor' l8 would be started before any washing liquid is admitted to the vat l0. With the impeller 22 and pump 24 being rotated at motor speed, the entering water is prevented from flowing out the drain opening 28. When the washing and rinsing part of the cycle is completed, the motor 18 is stopped and the water is then able to flow between the radial blades 32 of the pump and through the opening 28 into the sump l4 and out the drain connection 34.

It is to be understood that the pump 24 will be so designed as not to interfere with the efiective action of the impeller 22. It is anticipated, however, that the pump and impeller may be designated as a single integral unit, as by suitable baiiles, the action of the pump in ejecting the liquid from the drain opening may be employed in connection with the washing or rinsing operation taking place in the vatof the dishwasher above the pump and impeller structure.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a receptacle, such as the vat of a dishwasher, adapted to'hold a body of liquid for ultimate discharge therefrom, said receptacle having an associated wall surface adapted to support said body of liquid for retention within the receptacle and said wall surface having a drain opening therein for the said ultimate discharge of the body of liquid with a portion of said wall surface encompassing said drain opening, a flow control device operatively associated with said drain opening to control the discharge therethrough, said device comprising a rotary bladed member adapted when in rotation to repel the flow of liquid to the drain opening and being formed to permit the liquid to fiow therethrough to the drain opening when the said member is stationary, means for rotating said member, and means supporting the said bladed member in position to sweep the inside of said encompassing wall portion with the member rotatable in intimate liquid sealing relation with respect to said encompassing wall portion, the construction and arrangement being such that whereas the flow control device is operative when in rotation to hold the body of liquid trapped 56 within the receptacle it permits the receptacle 2,4es,sas

to empty through the drain outlet when the rotation is ceased.

2. In combination with a receptacle, such as the vat of a dishwasher, adapted to hold a body of liquid for ultimate discharge therefrom, said receptacle having an associated wall surface portion adapted to support said body of liquid for retention within the receptacle and said wall surface portion having a drain opening therein for the discharge of the liquid therethroush with a portion of said wall surface portion encompassing said drain opening, supporting structure, a flow control device for said drain opening supported on said structure, said device comprising a centrifugal impeller rotor having blades defining liquid flow passages between them and said structures supporting said rotor in position with respect to said drain Opening so that the outer peripheral portions of said blades are disposed in intimate liquid sealing rotatable relation with respect to the inside of said encompassing wall surface portion whereas the inner peripheral portions of the blades are disposed over the said drain opening, whereby the outer ends of said liquid flow passages open to an inflow of liquid from within the interior of the receptacle at a radially outwardly disposed position with respect to said drain opening whereas the inner ends of said passages connect to said drain opening, and means for rotating said rotor to cause the said peripheral blade portions to sweep over said encompassing wall surface portion in liquid sealing relation thereto, the construction and arrangement being such that whereas in rotation of said rotor liquid is precluded from entering said liquid passages and is held trapped within the receptacle, said liquid within the receptacle being free to empty through said passages when rotation is ceased.

3. In combination with a receptacle, such as the vat of a dishwasher, adapted to hold a body of liquid for ultimate discharge therefrom, said receptacle having an associated wall surface adapted to support said body of liquid for retention within the receptacle and said surface having a drain opening therein for the discharge of the 4 liquid therethrough with a. portion or said surface encompassing said drain opening, supporting structure, a flow control device for said drain opening supported on said structure, said device comprising a centrifugal impeller rotor having radially arranged blades defining liquid now passages between them, said structure supporting said rotor in position so that the outer peripheral portions of said blades are disposed in intimate rotatable liquid sealing relation with respectto the insideof said encompassing wall surface portion whereas the inner peripheral portions of the blades are disposed over the said drain opening, whereby the outer ends of said liquid flow passages open at their outer ends to an inflow of liquid from within the receptacle at a radially outwardly disposed position with respect to said drain opening whereas the inner ends of said passages connect for discharge to said drain opening; said liquid flow passages and said drain opening being of substantial area to permit rapid emptying of the receptacle, and means for rotating said rotor to cause the said peripheral blade portions to sweep over said encompassing wall surface portion'in liquid sealing relation thereto, the construction and arrangement being such that whereas in the rotation of said rotor liquid within the receptacle is precluded from entering said liquid passages but is held trapped within the receptacle, said liquid being free to empty with a rush flow through said passages and opening when said rotation is ceased. CHARLES HOLLERITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,492,288 December 27, 1949 CHARLES HOLLERITH It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as folloivs:

Column 2, line 20, for the word designated read designed; column 3, line 17, for structures read structure;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of May,A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommiaaz'oner of Patents. 

